Spring tire for vehicles



Oct. 5, 1943.

J. E. GRIFFITH` SPRAING TIRE FOR VEHICLES Filed May so, 1942 A TTDRNE-Y- Patented Oct. 5, 1943 i UNITED STATES PATEN'I" OFFICE SPRING 'rms Fon vEHIoLEs l James E. Griffith, Denver, Colo. Application May so, 1942,'1seria1N0.445,408, t srclaims. (ol. 152-85) l A This invention relates to a resilient wheel for automotive vehicles' and has for its principal object the provision of a wheel structure which will eliminate the necessity for rubber tires so as to relieve the demand on rubber to liberate the latter for war uses.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a spring wheel structure in'which all of the springs regardless of their position in the wheel will be exerting a cushioning effect thereon atk In the following detailed description of theV invention reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of. the drawing and throughout the description- In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross section through the improved resilient wheel; Y

Fig, 2 is a side view of the improved wheel partially in section, the section being taken on line 2 2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross section through the alternate form of the invention designed to replace thev present pneumatic tires; and

Fig, 4 is a fragmentary detail view of the tread ring employed in the alternate form.

In the drawing, a typical wheel aXle spindle is indicated at I with its wheel bearings at I l the usual wheel hub at I2, and hub capat 30. The wheel hub I2 carries the usual wheel flange I3 from which the standard wheel studs I4 project. As thus far described, `the structure is the usual construction to which a wheel discV and its surrounding tire are ordinarily bolted. g The improved wheel simply replaces the vstandard wheel on the studs I4.

The wheel comprises a wheel disc I5 designed to t over` the studs I4. A second inner wheel disc I6 of the same outer diameter as the 'disc I5 vis bolted, welded or otherwise securedto the inner face of the disc I5. The outer edges of these two discs are spaced-apart.v The inner disc I6 carried the usual brake drum I1. A tread ring I8 surrounds the two discs.

The ring I8 is T-shaped in cross section having a at, band-like tread portion I9 andA aV disc-like, inwardly projecting, central tread flange 20. The tread flange A20 extends inwardly between the tivo separated discs I5 and I6 and is slidable therebetween. The flange is held in place by means ,of -ilangebolts 2| which pass throughr spacing washers 22 acting as spacersfor the discs. Relatively large bolt holes 23 areV formed in the flange 2l] about the spacing washers 22.

The tread ring I3 is constantly urged outwardly from wheel discs by means of outer and inner spring rings 24 and 25, respectively. The spring rings are secured to the outer and inner faces of the discs` I5 and I6, respectively, by means of the flange bolts 2|. Eachof the spring ringsis V-shaped in cross section, They are positioned with ,their opensides facing toward each otherV andwith their outeredges engaging in receivingnotches 26 Vin the opposite sidesof the angeZ, immediately inside of the tread band I9.

While the spring rings-24 themselves complete integral units, their outer spring portions are separated, by a, plurality of radially-extending slots 21, into separate spacedapart spring tongues 28. l l

The action of the wheel isbelieved tozbe readily apparent. Downward pressure on the-y axle spindle I0 forces the two discs I5 and I6 downwardly causing the two sides rof the V-shaped spring members to be iiexed toward each other at the bottom of the'wheel and to be flexed away from each other at the top of the wheel. Thus, all of the spring tongues 28 around the entire wheel exert some action to resist or cushion the downward movement of the spindle Il), depending upon their position in the wheel. The maxif' ring. Thelenlarged openings 23 allow suicient space forthe verticalmovement at the front and back yof the wheel. The tread band I9 may be covered with any suitable wear resisting andA noise reducing tire 29. Y

In Fig. 3, the same principle of construction is employed to provide what might be termeda spring tire 'which can be placed on any standard pneumatic tire rim, such as illustrated at 3 I. `'.,Io

, adaptthey rim ."BI to receive the spring tire, the,Y

former is preferably provided with a filler 32 and 25 are each in) 

